Breaking news is a story that has occurred or is developing in real time, usually involving something unexpected and urgent such as a shooting or fire. It’s the type of news that requires immediate attention from journalists and their audience. Breaking news can happen anywhere and is often the most chaotic to cover. It also tends to be the source of many false and misleading reports. The key to breaking news is to get it right as quickly and accurately as possible.
The lead is the first piece of information in a breaking news story, and should provide a concise summary of what’s happening or has happened. A good break-news lead answers some combination of the five Ws (who, what, where, when and why) and one H (“how”). It should also be clear and compelling. Too much background or unessential information slows the pace and may push readers away.
Getting information on a breaking story, especially if it’s an event that the reporter hasn’t witnessed firsthand, involves talking to sources. But as NPR’s erroneous report on the shooting of Gabrielle Giffords demonstrated, sources can be wrong. It’s important for reporters to always confirm eyewitness accounts with authorities, and never to speculate.
Until recently, TV and radio stations would only interrupt regular programming to air breaking news stories of an emergency nature such as severe weather or a natural disaster, but 24-hour news networks have since introduced a variety of “breaking news” tickers that can be run during regular programming. Similarly, mobile apps and social media platforms have replaced traditional tickers as the go-to outlets for breaking news.